Six-year-old Ryan Jacobs is an active child, who likes to show off his scars.

"It's where my tube was. They call it my second belly button and it goes up to my nose!"

Before he was even one-year-old, Ryan had gone through four rounds of treatment, and was fighting a rare cancer called acute misogynous leukemia.

Doctors at the University of Minnesota recommended a cord blood transplant. The University has led the way in the procedure. In fact, a recent study found transplant using cord blood might be more effective than transplants that use bone marrow.

Ryan’s transplant was a success. He doesn’t remember it, but he can recall going back for the checkups.

"When I was a baby, my mom said, ‘Hey Ryan we're going to the U!’ and I said to the me?" joked Ryan.

The University of Minnesota works with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund to find a way to treat rare cases like Ryan’s.

"It’s really great to know that Ryan’s story gave them a lot of insight for future kids," said Ryan’s mother, Liz Jacobs.